Gayle threatens England spinners - Gibson

Ottis Gibson, the West Indies coach, has warned England they will face a far tougher proposition when Chris Gayle returns to the side.

Gayle, who has been unavailable for the ODI series in Antigua due to a back injury, is due to return to the nets in Barbados over the next couple of days with a view to playing in the T20 series on the island that starts on Sunday.

West Indies' top-order have struggled in both the first two games. Wrong-footed by England's tactic of using their spinners in the opening overs - England utilised four spinners within the first 12 overs in the second ODI - West Indies slipped to 45-5 in the first match and 30-3 in the second.

While Gibson accepted that his side's top-order batting had been "pretty average", he believes there is nothing to fear in England's spin attack and that Gayle's return will force England to reconsider their approach of utilising spin bowling in the open overs.

"Chris will be back," Gibson said. "That will make a huge difference to our approach and how other teams approach us. Chris facing this spin might be a little bit different. He will be in Barbados in the next couple of days getting ready for the T20. All the reports suggest he should be ready.

"There's been some pretty average batting over the course of the two games. We got out of jail in the first game with Darren Sammy and Dwayne Bravo putting on 100 in 7 overs at the end, but that's not going to happen every day. We need to play better at the top of the order.

"We played the spin quite well at the World T20 in Sri Lanka two years ago and we know we can play it better than this. We just have to go out and do it.

"We've got Saqlain Mushtaq in our coaching team and our guys face him in the nets. And if you can play Saqlain, you should be able to handle Joe Root a little bit better. James Tredwell is the main spinner and he hasn't had a lot of wickets. He's bowled tight but he's not spun us out. To be losing wickets at the top of the order to Root and Moeen Ali, well, that hurts a little bit.

"On the first day, we never expected Root to open the bowling and bowl tight the way he did. So we had a good meeting and discussed it. But to come back and the same thing to happen again in the second game is disappointing for sure."

While Gibson accepted that this ODI series pitted two "tentative" teams against one another, he did celebrate the participation of Sunil Narine.

Narine has proved close to unplayable at times in the first two ODIs on the spin-friendly surface in Antigua, conceding just 61 runs in 20 overs so far and leading Gibson to hail him "the No. 1 spinner in the world."

"Every team we've played against in these conditions has struggled to pick him and score off him," Gibson said. "He's the No.1 spinner in the world and we're happy to have him in our team for sure.

"But these are just two teams seeking desperately to play some good cricket. Everybody looks very tentative. Our batsmen look tentative against their spinners up front and their batsmen look tentative also. That's what happens when you have two pretty fragile teams playing against one another."

Gibson also expressed his confusion over the dismissal of Dwayne Bravo in the second ODI. West Indies' captain was adjudged to be out stumped by a fumbling Jos Buttler despite inconclusive evidence that the ball hit the stumps or was in the keeper's hands when the bails were removed.

"I'm still confused," Gibson said. "I never saw anything that said the ball hit the stumps. But we're not allowed to discuss those things.

"The captain was in, and was getting a good score and got 80 odd in the first game. It was a turning point in the match.

"There was nothing conclusive for us upstairs. I'm sure they know why they gave it out, but it changed the game from our point of view."

CHRISTOPHER GAYLE is a big failure in the WI team he only perform for IPL remember when he failed against Bangladesh he should step aside and gave someone else a chance

Nabil
on March 5, 2014, 1:45 GMT

Us as West Indian fans need to make a push for Chanderpaul to be in the ODI side. West Indies doesn't play lot of test cricket and they are supposedly saving him for tests. He absolutely has a roll to play in this current WI ODI team and I want to see as much cricket with him as possible. Anyone that says he can't play this format needs to compare his ODI stats vs the current crop of players and see how vastly better he is. Or they don't even need to go so far, just look at the last regional ODI tournament and see what he did. To deny the West Indian public of his services to me is a crime and he would instantly improve the team. Supporters can we join together in voicing our concerns!

Robin
on March 4, 2014, 18:18 GMT

England must be shaking in their boots, Ha Ha!!. He is just going to fend it to slips/keeper off the fast stuff, don't thing C Broad is too worried.
The WI 4 day tournament is on also, a breeding ground to groom some test players. However, only two teams played into the 4th day, leeward islands and the college team. No wonder the WI keep loosing test in 3 days.
Why is Colin Croft not the WICB president [because he is a rebel]? one of the few people in the Caribbean who can read and analyzed the situation, he would break out the broom and clean house, too many players who are not committed to their development and blaming other.
EXUMA

jaswant
on March 4, 2014, 15:00 GMT

I think Gibson has defeated the wisdom of the Caribbean people.Why would this guy speak of Gayle who has not been in form for more than six months,while ready to play, is Shivnarine Chanderpaul who has scored two fifties in the recently concluded 50 overs competition.From day one playing for the WI and until today,he remains one of the world's top batsmen.With over 8,500 runs in ODI, an avg of 41, a strike rate of 70,11 centuries,59 fifties,it is baffling to think that he is not playing.He has the 4th fastest test hundred,and that is against Australia.He hit Steve Harmimnson for 5 fours and a six in a ODI.Why Gibson Why? Do you have something against this West Indian great?

cricfan23284213
on March 4, 2014, 13:58 GMT

Before Gayle can threaten England spin he first have to get past there fast bowlers and the way he is playing right now I don't see that happening. Bring back Shiv to teach the youngsters. Gibson must go!!

Android
on March 4, 2014, 13:13 GMT

narine is a GOOD SPIN BOWLER give him his due, yea he ain't from india or pakistan like some of the best but the fact of the matter is he is someone who gives the best the most trouble....and yea he hasn't proved himself as yet with the red ball but whether you want to agree or not he would always get that respect from the batsman at the crease!!

Ian
on March 4, 2014, 10:44 GMT

Was Bravo done by Erasmus, the random decision generating machine? I wasn't impressed with him in the Eng v Aus Ashes in England last year.

Bowling Joe Root is a risk, but if he's part of a six man attack it's a risk you can take. I reckon he has the talent to become an allrounder, but isn't one right now.

As for Narine being the world's best spinner, I just split my sides laughing and lost a kidney. So far, he's proved to be a decent bowler in the limited overs stuff but pretty average in longer games. He might prove to be in the future, but right now? Nah!

Gayle is in need of a new decent non-IPL performances. The only thing in his favour is that the World Twenty20 is on the subcontinent, where he's recently done quite well.

Derek
on March 4, 2014, 9:36 GMT

At least Gibson unlike the other 20000 coaches and armchair selectors of that regions cricket is waking up to the fact that this game is not just about bowling quickly. He now new need to turn his attention to realise that all it takes to finish off WI is one ball. If all his hopes are pinned on Gayle. I shocked that a coach would publicly make this declaration.

adit
on March 4, 2014, 4:23 GMT

Gibson is playing the psychological scare tactics well. This can drive fear into the opposition similar to sledging tactics but whether it works is debatable. The proof of the pudding lies in the middle, so let's see what the boys will do. He is laying too much emphasis on one player rather than the team. He should listen to Croft. Why is Chanderpaul not in this team????? If Sarwan is fit why is he still sidelined????

John
on March 4, 2014, 3:49 GMT

It is true that the return of Gayle at the top of the order should improve WI but the same could be said of the return of Morgan for England. In fact, while Gayle's T20 stats are a bit better than Morgan's, the reverse is true for their ODI stats.

With regards to Bravo's dismissal in game 2, as an England fan I want to believe that it was out but I think that the consensus is that, while it may have been out, most people would not have given it out based on the evidence available. That said, WI players and fans shouldn't pin too much on that one event because there's really nothing specific to suggest that the game would have gone much differently had that decision gone the other way. Also, it's not like he was given out stumped when his foot was still behind the crease. He was well and truly beaten and deserved to be out so, if he'd survived, it would have been a huge stroke of luck. To rely on that sort of luck to win games is not a sound strategy.

STEVEN
on March 8, 2014, 22:11 GMT

CHRISTOPHER GAYLE is a big failure in the WI team he only perform for IPL remember when he failed against Bangladesh he should step aside and gave someone else a chance

Nabil
on March 5, 2014, 1:45 GMT

Us as West Indian fans need to make a push for Chanderpaul to be in the ODI side. West Indies doesn't play lot of test cricket and they are supposedly saving him for tests. He absolutely has a roll to play in this current WI ODI team and I want to see as much cricket with him as possible. Anyone that says he can't play this format needs to compare his ODI stats vs the current crop of players and see how vastly better he is. Or they don't even need to go so far, just look at the last regional ODI tournament and see what he did. To deny the West Indian public of his services to me is a crime and he would instantly improve the team. Supporters can we join together in voicing our concerns!

Robin
on March 4, 2014, 18:18 GMT

England must be shaking in their boots, Ha Ha!!. He is just going to fend it to slips/keeper off the fast stuff, don't thing C Broad is too worried.
The WI 4 day tournament is on also, a breeding ground to groom some test players. However, only two teams played into the 4th day, leeward islands and the college team. No wonder the WI keep loosing test in 3 days.
Why is Colin Croft not the WICB president [because he is a rebel]? one of the few people in the Caribbean who can read and analyzed the situation, he would break out the broom and clean house, too many players who are not committed to their development and blaming other.
EXUMA

jaswant
on March 4, 2014, 15:00 GMT

I think Gibson has defeated the wisdom of the Caribbean people.Why would this guy speak of Gayle who has not been in form for more than six months,while ready to play, is Shivnarine Chanderpaul who has scored two fifties in the recently concluded 50 overs competition.From day one playing for the WI and until today,he remains one of the world's top batsmen.With over 8,500 runs in ODI, an avg of 41, a strike rate of 70,11 centuries,59 fifties,it is baffling to think that he is not playing.He has the 4th fastest test hundred,and that is against Australia.He hit Steve Harmimnson for 5 fours and a six in a ODI.Why Gibson Why? Do you have something against this West Indian great?

cricfan23284213
on March 4, 2014, 13:58 GMT

Before Gayle can threaten England spin he first have to get past there fast bowlers and the way he is playing right now I don't see that happening. Bring back Shiv to teach the youngsters. Gibson must go!!

Android
on March 4, 2014, 13:13 GMT

narine is a GOOD SPIN BOWLER give him his due, yea he ain't from india or pakistan like some of the best but the fact of the matter is he is someone who gives the best the most trouble....and yea he hasn't proved himself as yet with the red ball but whether you want to agree or not he would always get that respect from the batsman at the crease!!

Ian
on March 4, 2014, 10:44 GMT

Was Bravo done by Erasmus, the random decision generating machine? I wasn't impressed with him in the Eng v Aus Ashes in England last year.

Bowling Joe Root is a risk, but if he's part of a six man attack it's a risk you can take. I reckon he has the talent to become an allrounder, but isn't one right now.

As for Narine being the world's best spinner, I just split my sides laughing and lost a kidney. So far, he's proved to be a decent bowler in the limited overs stuff but pretty average in longer games. He might prove to be in the future, but right now? Nah!

Gayle is in need of a new decent non-IPL performances. The only thing in his favour is that the World Twenty20 is on the subcontinent, where he's recently done quite well.

Derek
on March 4, 2014, 9:36 GMT

At least Gibson unlike the other 20000 coaches and armchair selectors of that regions cricket is waking up to the fact that this game is not just about bowling quickly. He now new need to turn his attention to realise that all it takes to finish off WI is one ball. If all his hopes are pinned on Gayle. I shocked that a coach would publicly make this declaration.

adit
on March 4, 2014, 4:23 GMT

Gibson is playing the psychological scare tactics well. This can drive fear into the opposition similar to sledging tactics but whether it works is debatable. The proof of the pudding lies in the middle, so let's see what the boys will do. He is laying too much emphasis on one player rather than the team. He should listen to Croft. Why is Chanderpaul not in this team????? If Sarwan is fit why is he still sidelined????

John
on March 4, 2014, 3:49 GMT

It is true that the return of Gayle at the top of the order should improve WI but the same could be said of the return of Morgan for England. In fact, while Gayle's T20 stats are a bit better than Morgan's, the reverse is true for their ODI stats.

With regards to Bravo's dismissal in game 2, as an England fan I want to believe that it was out but I think that the consensus is that, while it may have been out, most people would not have given it out based on the evidence available. That said, WI players and fans shouldn't pin too much on that one event because there's really nothing specific to suggest that the game would have gone much differently had that decision gone the other way. Also, it's not like he was given out stumped when his foot was still behind the crease. He was well and truly beaten and deserved to be out so, if he'd survived, it would have been a huge stroke of luck. To rely on that sort of luck to win games is not a sound strategy.

Jack
on March 4, 2014, 2:33 GMT

Gibson is really the worst head coach in cricket. He should just shut up and continue fooling Pybus and WICB. Gayle's average recently in international cricket is nothing to boast. The best coached fast bowlers in the West Indies are the CCC under Ambrose. Every young fast bowler given to Gibson seems to get worse. Batsmen in the WI team cannot use their feet. Look at Daren Bravo. He is the statue of Lara. He does not move his feet and when he does he thinks you must play a big stroke. A batsman moving his feet should do this with defense in mind and if the ball is there your attack. Too many WI batsmen get stumped because they only move for surprise attack.

Roy
on March 4, 2014, 2:20 GMT

Good move by England to use spin,

Fabian
on March 4, 2014, 1:24 GMT

Here we go again Gibson hoping that Gayle would save him from shame again. When will this guy learn that the W.I team is not all about Gayle and that he needs to get people that are scoring run into the team. Even old Shiv would have made the combine score of the top four batsmen in both game. Gibson it's time to go you have tried and you do know your results. Quit while you are ahead.

Dennis
on March 4, 2014, 1:06 GMT

I think it's a bad idea to hype up a player who's been in horrible form outside of the IPL for the past 6-8 months of active duty. For West Indies' sake, I hope that Gibson is right.

Randolph
on March 4, 2014, 0:07 GMT

With the mess that England has been left in since their 5-0 drubbing at the hand of Australia (the second in less than 10 years), an incredibly scrappy win against an awful WI side is the best they can hope for.

Roy
on March 3, 2014, 23:51 GMT

i never heard such nonsence!!! Gayle hasn't play a cricket match in months and worst than that he cannot play spin,Gibson is all talk no action,what he should be talking about is making changes to the top order batting like Smith,Powell,KIRK EDWARDS and SAMMY,WI team have gotten worst and is getting even worst under Butts and Gibson,also Gibson complaining about Bravo's wicket thats just one wicket get rid of the entire top order batting,Sarwan second highest scorer in the resent 50 overs,so why is not playing? i guess Gibson and WICB is happy winning one game every once in a while,gold should be winning CONSISTENTLY.

Zorina
on March 3, 2014, 21:52 GMT

I don't know what Gibson is saying. The batsmen were surprised by England's spinners in the first match, but they didn't adjust in the second. He is not supposed to talk about Bravo's dismissal but he prattles on. There are other dismissals he should be talking about too. Narine, the best bowler of four overs is the "best spin bowler in the world". Hasn't he ever heard of Saeed Ajmal or seen his strike rates? The best however, is that Chris Gayle, who he didn't even want on the side, is the hidden weapon in the WI armoury.

Kevin
on March 3, 2014, 21:47 GMT

Perhaps, Otis, you should tell your captain not to wander down the track and miss the ball instead of critcising the third umpire, despite saying you can't say anything! Gayle coming back will certainly be a different proposition for all concerned and in T20 he can take a game away as quick as anything.

Ski
on March 3, 2014, 21:34 GMT

Having watched his fantastic innings (I forget exactly how many he made) in IPL last year I have to agree. I think our spinners will be lambs to the slaughter. Just hope we get a bit of luck against him!

Dominic
on March 3, 2014, 20:48 GMT

I hope that that Chris comes good, he is a very explosive batsman who is misfiring at the moment.

No featured comments at the moment.

Dominic
on March 3, 2014, 20:48 GMT

I hope that that Chris comes good, he is a very explosive batsman who is misfiring at the moment.

Ski
on March 3, 2014, 21:34 GMT

Having watched his fantastic innings (I forget exactly how many he made) in IPL last year I have to agree. I think our spinners will be lambs to the slaughter. Just hope we get a bit of luck against him!

Kevin
on March 3, 2014, 21:47 GMT

Perhaps, Otis, you should tell your captain not to wander down the track and miss the ball instead of critcising the third umpire, despite saying you can't say anything! Gayle coming back will certainly be a different proposition for all concerned and in T20 he can take a game away as quick as anything.

Zorina
on March 3, 2014, 21:52 GMT

I don't know what Gibson is saying. The batsmen were surprised by England's spinners in the first match, but they didn't adjust in the second. He is not supposed to talk about Bravo's dismissal but he prattles on. There are other dismissals he should be talking about too. Narine, the best bowler of four overs is the "best spin bowler in the world". Hasn't he ever heard of Saeed Ajmal or seen his strike rates? The best however, is that Chris Gayle, who he didn't even want on the side, is the hidden weapon in the WI armoury.

Roy
on March 3, 2014, 23:51 GMT

i never heard such nonsence!!! Gayle hasn't play a cricket match in months and worst than that he cannot play spin,Gibson is all talk no action,what he should be talking about is making changes to the top order batting like Smith,Powell,KIRK EDWARDS and SAMMY,WI team have gotten worst and is getting even worst under Butts and Gibson,also Gibson complaining about Bravo's wicket thats just one wicket get rid of the entire top order batting,Sarwan second highest scorer in the resent 50 overs,so why is not playing? i guess Gibson and WICB is happy winning one game every once in a while,gold should be winning CONSISTENTLY.

Randolph
on March 4, 2014, 0:07 GMT

With the mess that England has been left in since their 5-0 drubbing at the hand of Australia (the second in less than 10 years), an incredibly scrappy win against an awful WI side is the best they can hope for.

Dennis
on March 4, 2014, 1:06 GMT

I think it's a bad idea to hype up a player who's been in horrible form outside of the IPL for the past 6-8 months of active duty. For West Indies' sake, I hope that Gibson is right.

Fabian
on March 4, 2014, 1:24 GMT

Here we go again Gibson hoping that Gayle would save him from shame again. When will this guy learn that the W.I team is not all about Gayle and that he needs to get people that are scoring run into the team. Even old Shiv would have made the combine score of the top four batsmen in both game. Gibson it's time to go you have tried and you do know your results. Quit while you are ahead.

Roy
on March 4, 2014, 2:20 GMT

Good move by England to use spin,

Jack
on March 4, 2014, 2:33 GMT

Gibson is really the worst head coach in cricket. He should just shut up and continue fooling Pybus and WICB. Gayle's average recently in international cricket is nothing to boast. The best coached fast bowlers in the West Indies are the CCC under Ambrose. Every young fast bowler given to Gibson seems to get worse. Batsmen in the WI team cannot use their feet. Look at Daren Bravo. He is the statue of Lara. He does not move his feet and when he does he thinks you must play a big stroke. A batsman moving his feet should do this with defense in mind and if the ball is there your attack. Too many WI batsmen get stumped because they only move for surprise attack.

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